The Somerset reporter., 1887-12-21

tion
Where capifal /, AGGREGATED aud or,sn.
| lied. labor should hr nrotccted Nv IA.
same methods There il coinmon
ground on which all can meet and there
are common interests which shauId he
| defended by tue strong arm Of labor. and
no one has more reason to rejoice over
the PROSPERITY Of the hbOrrr than The
farmer, but at the same time we must not
! lose sight of the fact TIM an unfair. nm
| compromising and unnecessary warfare
against capital is iniuriou. To every inter
est
HE GRANGE.
The Patrons of Iusbandry is "A Natiou-
al organization which made its apucar-
| anee twcnty-one years ago. The active
| founders Of the order were seven oru-
| tlcmen SIX of thi, number were con-
nccted with the Agricultural Burcau
and other DEPARTMENTS at Wa>atuut in
and were farmers. or sons Of farmers
The other one was "A prominent agricul-
tnrst residing in the State of NrW York
and they .buildrd wiser than they lrirvv IS
Through corrcspoudrnee. circuiars and
personal interviews Of "A very extensive
character. these pioneers Of Grange work
Brothers q. IL. Kelly. William Saunders.
j. X. Thomson, Rev \. b. Grosh. +. VI
Mcdowell | NJ. Trimble and William
NJ ireland. came in possession of facts
and information which fully warranted
the necessity and popularity Of an aucn-
cv which wonld brinp the farmers of the
Nation into closer relationship. and mu-
tual understanding. hv association and co-
operation for their own protection and
benefit. The peculiar feature of the
Grange, when compared with farmers
clubs and societies, which had heretofore
existed, was that it was made a secret or
ganization with seven degrees. and form
OF initiation. also. if pavc to farmers
wives and dauah crs, who became mem
bers all the rights and privileges which
the opposite sex enioyed. The fact that
the Order has so long existed. and has had
the confidence and respect of tile most
intelligent and influential farmers of the
land removes all objections to its secrecy,
which serves simply AS n means of pro-
lection against frauds and imposition. too
often practced in gaining admission to
societies where there is more freedom and
easy access. To the initiated the reasons
for secrecy are obvious. and found to he
of a trivial character: il simply kecpS
farmers inside of the uate and all others
outside. and this secrecy does not exist
DCNODU q ceremony OF imitation 'AWHlCl
binds the members AS with band of iron.
but although its influence is so powerful.
its application is as gentle As that of the
silken thread that binds n wreath of
flowers"
The excellent influences and the kind
of interest which the female representa-
tives of the farm have exerted in the
Grange iustlties the propretv Of keeping
the cate aiar for her distinguished pres
ence, and comforting upon her. when
practicablr. any and NIL of the honorS of
fees and privileges of the Grange. 1t
was a fortunate action of the founders of
the Order. when the constitution of the
Grange was so promulgated as to give to
woman lust and cunal rccognition 1t
was the original propo>i1ion of Miss
Carrie 4. Hall of Wisconsin, who de-
serves a hiuh mention in the history of
the order. 1t has proven to be Il power
of strength. The Subordinate Grange /,
the unit of the organization, and is local
in its character, and should find its true
home L. every agricultural town in the
State
The Pomona or more famiiarly known
as the Comfy Grange is compoSed of the
members of the Subordinate Oranges
which meets at longer intervals Bring
inc the Patrons of a County together as
members Of one great family; it broadens
the field of labor. increases the scope of
friendship and fraternity which the Or-
der inculcates. and develops better I'M
derStandng of the wants and necessities
of the hu, ,bandman of County, and the
methods of reaching them. We have
Pomona Oranges in every County of the
State of Maine. The State Grange is
COMPOSED of the Masters and past Mas
tcrs of Subordinate Oranges and their
wives who are Matrons Past Masters
and their wives are honorary members,
eligible to the Office but not entitled to
vote. In case of the inability of an act
ing master of n Grange to attend the
State Grange, the vacancy can be nlled hy
the Subordinate Oranges bv the elcc-
tion of past Master, or fourth de
gree member who shall be voting mem
bcrs of that body. The State Grange is
a high court of the organization, where
disputed questions are settled which re-
late to the general welfare of the order,
and where vital questions of public pol
lev which affect the interest of agricul-
ture, and the home farm are discussed,
and the proper course and action agreed
upon to be pursued hv the farmer in or
der to secure the greatest good to the
greatest number
The National Grange is composed of
Masters of the State Oranges, and their
wives. who have taken the degree of Po-
mona. Acting Masters and their wives
are only entitled to vote. The National,
Grange. at the present time, has an ac-
tive organization in thirty-threc States
and territories. and it holds annual scs-
sions at such places as the National
Grange NAV designate: its meeting for
the wear 1857 was held at lansing Michi-
pan. The next annual meeting will be
held in Topeka. Kansas The National
Grange in consequence of its large accu-
mutation of funds in the wear ls15, gra-
tuitouslv disburSed Sj4 so among the
Subordinate Oranges throughout the
Union. II now has a permanent fund of
10000. The annual payment of five
cents into the National treasury by each
member creates IL fund sufficiently large
To pay the expenses of the National ses-
sion which often times reaches the sum
of sl2 900, aad leaves large surplus for
,.,I,ar oxnnnaos 'rho in0unnpns pf thp